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Friday, 03 September 2010

Alternative Guide to Sofia


Sklada: The Space that Stores and Showcases Contemporary Design

Its short manifesto, called “The diary of a Sofia neo-nihilist,” reads: “In reference to Sofia, nobody can claim anymore that it is a place of underdeveloped primates isolated from the world.... Full Story



Bulgaria
Before and After: A Tango Milonga in the Midst of Sofia

Every Sunday evening Sofia meets Buenos Aires in an old, light blue house in the Secession style. If you want to witness that meeting, walk along Hristo Belchev street and go underneath the “Before and after” sign. Full Story


Bulgaria
Vlaykova: Sofia’s Old School Cinema

Sofia’s Vlaykova Cinema is one of the four surviving movie theatres in the city, after the invasion of the mall multiplexes. It is also the only movie theatre whose screening programme doesn’t conform to those of the other three independent halls... Full Story


Bulgaria
Contemporary Fashion Design at Ivan Asen 22

Ivan Asen 22 is “an emotional space and a conceptual platform for the presentation of contemporary fashion design.” Full Story


Bulgaria
The Turkish Café: A Place for Sweet Tea, Salty Snacks and Long Chats

A presence in Sofia’s student city (‘Studentski grad’) for several years, the place is actually called Dilgün - Simit Sarayı. Full Story


Bulgaria
The Flea Market in Malashevtsi: From Communist Rebellion to Memorabilia

Until 1989, this used to be the place where one could legitimately buy all kinds of images of the West – from Beatles tapes, Levi’s jeans, Turbo chewing gum Full Story


Bulgaria
Panta Rei at Adams Bar

If you think sports such as foosball (table football) and darts aren’t serious or addiction-worthy, Adams Bar will make you reconsider. Full Story


Bulgaria
Jacqueline, Tetris or Zhechka: The Beehive of a Building

Jacqueline is a beauty. She’ll catch your eye with her warm colours and her dynamic silhouette. Built between 2005 and 2008, she is the creation of architects Rositsa and Plamen Bratkovi. Full Story


Bulgaria
The Women’s Market: New Stockings in the Day and Old Found Objects in the Night

During the day, the women’s market is comfortably settled between Ekzarh Yosif and Slivnitsa Streets, and another four lines of stalls line up the entire length of Stefan Stambolov Street. Full Story


Bulgaria
Checkmate in front of the National Theatre, Sofia

Turn your back to the National Theatre Ivan Vazov and start walking towards the little park, on the left side of the fountain. You will come across a few marble chessboard tables, around which players and an audience gather. Full Story




Epicure


Turkey
Sherbet or Sorbet? An East-West Beverage Tradition

Sherbet and sorbet are a pronounced example of the contemporary gastronomic approach to the “Eastern-Western” synthesis. Full Story



Curiosity Chest


Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia’s Bitter Bouquet: the Sarajevo Rose

Sarajevo carries all kinds of traces of its past in its cityscape. And while some of them are easy to notice, one – despite its prevalence, can be missed quite easily: the Sarajevo Rose, a scar in the ground and a daily reminder of the horrors of the recent war. Full Story



Useful Reads


Greece
In Sfakia: Passing Time in the Wilds of Crete (2008) | By Peter Trudgill

Crete has long been acknowledged as one of the most singular and unique parts of Greece. Its people keep a fierce hold on their traditions, customs and history. Practically a country of its own, this vast island looms over all others in Greece. Nevertheless, as In Sfakia author Peter Trudgill aptly notes in his preface, “some parts of Crete are more special than others, and Sfakia, on the remote south coast, is certainly one of those.” Full Story




Music


Macedonia
Macedonia: Esma Redžepova's Passion for Humanity

"A Gypsy from the city of Skopje", as she calls herself, Esma Redžepova has more than 40 years of singing and humanitarian efforts under her belt. Full Story